Sportsman&#39;s boat



Aug. 27, 1957 J. VIROBIK SPORTSMANS BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10,1956 INVENTOR. c/hz f/zmZ/Z; BY

Filed. Aug. '10, 1956 J. VIROBIK ,03,837

SPORTSMANS BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

2,803,837 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 SPORTSMANS BOAT John Virobik,Centralia, Ill.

Application August 10, 1956, Serial No. 603,306

3 Claims. (Cl. 9-5) This invention relates generally to water craft, andis more particularly concerned with small boats of the type generallyused by sportsmen for the purpose of hunting or fishing, for example.

Generally speaking boats of the type involved comprise a buoyant hullcapable of carrying a single occupant and his necessary hunting orfishing gear, the occupants legs extend through the bottom of the boathull and supply the necessary propelling force for said hull. Generallyspeaking the occupant will have disposed on his lower extremities wadersor suitable water proof leggings, and it is generally desirable toincorporate means whereby the boat hull may be propelled throughmovement of the legs of the occupant leaving his hands free formanipulating a fish pole or gun, for example.

A primary object of invention in conformance with that set forth is toprovide a novel sportsmans boat incorporating a hull wherein an occupantof the same may be seated with his legs disposed out of a centralopening in the bottom of the hull and including a foot actuatedpropulsion means leaving the occupants arms and hands free for thepurpose of participating in the sport involved.

Another object of invention in conformance with that set forth is toprovide a novel sportsmans boat of the character involved wherein thefoot actuated propulsion assembly includes operating means dependingfrom opposite sides of the central opening in the bottom of a boat hullfor engagement with an occupants feet and further including forcetransmitting means depending from the stern of the boat in operativeengagement with the operating means wherein said hull may be propelledin a ready and expeditious manner in both a straight course as well asfor the purpose of turning the same.

And yet a still further object of invention in conformance with that setforth is to provide a novel sportsmans boat of the character involvedwhich is readily and economically manufactured, easily used and maintained, and highly satisfactory, practical and acceptable for thepurpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequentlybecome apparent reside in the details of construction and operation asmore fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals referto like parts throughout, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the novel boat;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure1, showing in phantom lines the relative position of an occupant of theboat;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the novel boat;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view Show ing the relativeposition of cooperating parts during a propulsion stroke of the footactuated propulsion as sembly of the boat;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the relative position ofthe cooperating parts after a propulsion stroke has been accomplished;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the forward end portion ofthe hull of the boat of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the novel boat is indicatedgenerally at 10 and includes a substantially eliptical shaped buoyanthull 12 constructed from any suitable material, said hull havingdepending from forward and aft portions thereof on the longitudinal axissuitably secured forward and rear keel portions 14 and 16. The hull 12includes in the body portion 13 a central apertured portion 20 havingextending about its periphery an upwardly extending flange portion 22which has removably disposed thereon a seat assembly indicated generallyat 24.

The seat assembly 24 comprises a pair of suitably secured rightangularly related support bars 26 and 28 which terminate at their endportions in downwardly opening reverse bend portions 30, see Figure 2,extensible over the flange 22 previously mentioned. Suitably secured atthe intersection of the support bars 26 and 28 is a suitable seat 32upon which the occupant O is seated during use of the sportsmans boat.

The boat hull is of a relatively shallow draft, and accordingly requiresvery little water to float the same, and it is to be understood that theflange portion 22 about the central aperture 20 may be made of anysuitable height to prevent the entrance of water into the boat hull.Furthermore, to facilitate maneuvering of the boat in relatively shallowwater the boots of the occupant of the boat may be provided with cleatsthereon as clearly shown in Figure 2.

Opening through the bottom of the boat hull on opposite sides of thecentral opening 20 are a pair of vertically extending suitably securedguide sleeves 34 and 36 which may be angularly directed toward thelongitudinal axis of the boat hull, see Figure 4, for example,

said sleeves having extending therethrough flexible force transmittingcables 38 and 40, respectively, of any suitable material, each of whichhaving suitably secured to the lower end thereof a suitable stirrupmember 42 and 44, respectively, through which the feet of an occupantwill extend.

A pair of upwardly extending support brackets 46 and 48, see Figure 3,are suitably secured in spaced relation ship on the outer surface of thestern of the boat hull and t have extending transversely therebetween atransversely disposed support shaft 50, said shaft having journaled atopposite ends thereof elongated force transmitting levers indicatedgenerally at 52 and 54 which respectively include a forwardly extendinglever portion 56 and 58 extending toward the opposite sides of the boathull and terminating substantially in overlying relationship to theupper portion of the guide sleeves 34 and 36, respectively, beingrespectively secured to upper ends of the flexible force transmittingcables 38 and 40. The levers 52 and 54 include lower lever portions 60and 62, respectively, see Figure 3, which comprise spaced strap membersextending in arcuate relationship beneath the aft portion of the boathull, which have secured on the lower end portions thereof extendinginto the water in which the hull is floated paddles 64 and 66,respectively, which comprise overlapping blade elements 68 which consistof spaced transverse support shafts 70 pivotally mounting suitablesupport sleeves 72, see Figure 7, integral with plate members 74constituting the blade elements. Considering Figures 5 and 6, when thelevers 52 and 54 are moved in a counter-clockwise direction as seen inFigure the blade element 68 will tend to move in the direction indicatedby the direction arrows of Figure 5 due to the resistance of the water.When the levers 52, and 54 move upwardly in a clockwise direction asviewed in Figure 6, the blade elements 68 will pivot into trailingrelationship as indicated by the direction arrows, in Figure 6 offeringsubstantially no resistance to movement of the hull through the water.Suitable transverse stop elements 76, see Figures 5 and 6., for example,are, provided on lever portions 60 and 62 in the path of pivotalmovement of the blade elements, see Figure 5, permitting a propulsionstroke to be accomplished.

Circumposed aboutthe support shaft 50 are coilspri'ng assemblies 78 and80 which include one end'pcrtion82. and 84, respectively, ee Figure 3,in engagement with the outer surface of the stern of. the boat hull, theother.

end portion of which indicated at: 8,6, and 88,,respectivelybeingdisposedbeneatha portion of, the force, transmitting levers 52 and54, respectively. Thus. when the force transmitting levers 52 are urgeddownwardly as indicated in Figure 5 the coil spring circumposed aboutthe shaft 50 will be wound up. or tightened and store up sufficientenergy to urge the force transmitting levers upwardly as indicated inFigure 6,. The force transmitting levers may be operated alternately in,the, usual manner. of rowing, a boat, or be operated independently. forthe purpose of turning the boat.

Additionally, the vertical leg movement by an individual from a seatedposition for propelling aboat minimizes the effort and fatigue of suchindividuals, ascompared with conventional mannual propulsion means.Furthermore, the novel boat of the invention may be operated in arelatively noiseless fashion, and. thus is especially adaptable. insports such as hunting and fishing.

Thus there has been disclosed a novel sportsmans boat which fullyconforms with the objects of invention heretofore set forth. Theforegoing is considered as illustraa tive only of the principles of theinvention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the. art, itis notv desiredzto, limitthe invention to the exact. construction and operation shown anddescribed, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of. the. appendedclaims.

What is claimedas new is as follows:

1. A boat comprising a buoyant hull including, fore and aft portions, acentral, opening in the bottorn of the hull, a seat assembly disposed,transversely of the central opening accommodating an occupant of theboatthereon with his feet depending in thewaterinwhich the hull isfloating, and a foot actuated propulsion assembly on the hull includingspaced stirrup members depending adjacent opposite sides of thecentral'opening for engagement with an occupants feet, a rotatablesupport shaft transversely disposed on the stern of the hull, spacedlevers eachsecured at the mid-point to said shaft for rotationtherewith, said levers having forwardly extending portions extendingtoward the fore portion of the boat and termi mating in overlyingrelationship with respect tothe central opening and having rear endportions extending below the bottom of the hull, paddles on thelever-rear end por? tions, and means. connecting the lever forwardlyextending portions to said stirrup members.

2. A boat comprising a buoyant hull including fore and aft portions, acentral opening in the bottom of" the hull, a seat assembly disposedtransversely of the central opening accommodating an occupant of theboat thereon with his feet depending in the water in which the hull isfloating, and a foot actuated propulsion assembly on the hull includingspaced stirrup members depending adjacent opposite sides of the centralopening for engagement with an occupants feet, a rotatable support shafttransversely disposed on the stern of the hull, spaced levers eachsecured at the mid-point to said shaft for rotation therewith, saidlevers having forwardly extending portions extending toward the foreportion of the boat and terminating in overlyingirelationshipwith:respect to the central opening and having rear end portions extendingbelow the bottom of the hull, paddles on the lever rear end portions,means connecting the lever forwardly extending portions to said. stirrupmembers, and resilient means operatively connected to saidsliaft andsaid levers for resisting; downward movement of the forwardly extendingportions of" saidlevers during a stroke for propelling the hullandautomatically returning thelever forwardly extendingportions to anelevated position fora subsequent propulsion stroke of saidlevers.

3. Av boat comprising a buoyant hull including fore and aft. portions, acentral opening in the bottom of the hull, a. seat assemblydisposed'transversely. of the central opening accommodating an occupantof'the boat thereon with his feet depending in the water in. which thehullis floating, and a foot actuated propulsion assembly on thehull'including operating means depending. adjacent opposite sides'ofthecentral opening for'engagement with an occupants feet and forcetransmitting means depending from the'stern ofthehull in operativeengagement with said operating means, said hull including a pair ofvertically disposed guide sleeves on opposite sides of' thecentralopening in the hull, the operatingmeans'comprising flexiblecables extendingthrough the guide sleeves and including stirrup memberson' the lower ends thereof for receiving an occupants feet therein, theforce trans mitting means comprising a support shaft transverselydisposed on the stern' of the hull, forwardly extending levers journaledon opposite sides of the support shaft, the forward end portionof thelevers being'connected to upperend'porti'ons of the flexible cable,paddles integral with rear endportions of the levers and extending-belowthe bottomof thehull, said paddles including pivotal bladeelements"maintained rigid upon pivotal movement of the-leversin'one-direction andpivotal into thedirection of movement of the hull when the levers are"moved inan opposite direction, and" resilient means engaged-with theforwardly extending levers resisting downward move ment thereof'during-a stroke for propelling the hull and automatically returning thelevers to an elevated position for-a-subsequent propulsion'stroke ofsaid levers.

References :Cited inuthe'file of this patent UNITED STATES: RATENTS1,332,634 Piateski Mar. 2", 1920 1,793,973. Stamegna et al.- Feb. 24,1931 1,794,883, Corderet alI Mar. 3', 1931 2,525,349 Gulley, Oct. 10,1950 2,723,640 Brown Nov. 15, 1955 a m... a

